Jason Pyrah grew up in Missouri, but graduated from Provo High School and became an eight-time all-American at BYU.

And as Tom Kirkland tells us, he makes sunglasses a part of every race.

Tom asks, "Basically your future's so bright you have to wear shades?"

"Yeah, right," replies Jason.

If you detect slight sarcasm in his tone, there's reason for it.

The 31-year-old Utah County resident is in the midst of a rare double for United States middle-distance men. He's running out of obscurity to his second straight Summer Olympics. But Pyrah still can't catch national respect nor any significant sponsorship money.

"If you don't run fast you can't get into fast races. You can't run fast unless you're in fast races. In that catch-22 you're left in a no mans' land where, 'Oh yeah, he's an Olympian. Yea, but...' The big but's there."

Home Depot is the largest employer in the Olympic job opportunities program. The Depot in Lindon is helping Jason chase his Olympic dream.

"They've been great over the past year for me to work-- I train before and after I come to work-- and still be paid a full check."

Weeze Kalkbrenner, Home Depot customer service says, "I'm very proud of him. I'll be glad if he brings something home 'cause then I can say I know that Olympian."

Jason's times in the 1500m are only in the top 20-25 heading into Sydney. So he fully understands that most observers think he's the longest of longshots.

"All you can do is say 'Hey, I can be ready. I'm a veteran of this sport. I've been in it for 10 years. I know how to race. I know how to get there, making my second Olympic team. I know how to race more than anything.' Most of the time at the Olympics it's about racing, not about running fast."

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